Philanthropy Knowledge Partner: Anna Vayanos

Anna Vayanos is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa as well as a solicitor for England and Wales. Anna practised trust, tax and charity law both in Cape Town and London for a period of ten years. Passionate about making a difference in South Africa, she then left legal practice to pursue a role that would enable her to work further with donors and the non-profit sector and re-conceptualised and soon headed up the Philanthropy Office at Nedbank Private Wealth (previously BoE Private Clients). The business was recognised as the industry leader in South Africa in the provision of philanthropy services (Business Day, Top Private Banking survey August 2012) and remains the largest and most established philanthropy offering with repeated international recognition.

Since 2013, Anna has been consulting independently through her own business, Anna Vayanos Philanthropy Consulting. She remains very active within the donor and NPO sector and her current board positions include being Chairperson of Home from Home as well as Women in Philanthropy (South Africa). She has spoken at many conferences, is a regular contributor of articles and viewpoints on industry-related topics, and co-wrote Advancing Philanthropy in South Africa with Shelagh Gastrow. Anna advises donors and NPOs on tax exemption and structuring, financial sustainability, good governance and responsible and effective giving.